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directions in Philly

I'm trying to figure the best way to drive from the Philadelphia Aiport to Independence Hall. When I go online for directions, none seem to show taking I-95 but that seems like the quickest and easiest route. Are there problems with going that way

291 to I-76 is a little bit shorter for center-city. But for Independence Hall, especially for visitors, I-95 is easier; as there are a few lane changes and turns from 291 to 76, and the on- and off-ramps on I-76 are very short and abrupt. I don't like going that way.

Karens, I'm actually going to be there at about 1 in the afternoon. I'd rather go the more direct route, which appears to be I-95. It looks like the most straight shot. Also, is parking readily available for a price?

"Parking
Convenient parking for cars is available at the underground lots below the National Constitution Center, (enter from Race Street), and at the Independence Visitor Center, (enter from 5th or 6th Streets, between Arch and Market Streets.)"

I'm glad to hear you're not going during rush hour - it will be a LOT less stressful for you.

I always take the Schuykill Expressway (I76) - that's just what I'm used to. This way is the most NON scenic route - past smelly oil refineries and not the best neighborhoods Phila has to offer. If you do go this way, don't judge Phila by this route!

Yes, parking is available, it may be price-y, but worth it, b/c parking spots are hard to find.

If you have extra time, we like walking around the historic area, between Market and Walnut and Front Street and 5th Streets. There are narrow streets, landscaped areas, and as you walk, you come across all sorts of other historic areas, i.e. Carpenter Hall, etc.

I'm a non-Philadelphian who has had occasion to visit the city several times recently including a couple of tries to visit Independence Hall, the first unsuccessful.

dacapo, be aware that you cannot get into Independence Hall at all now without a ticket, and the tickets for the day can all be sold out by 1 PM, as they were the first time I went.

The good news is that you can buy tickets for a specific tour time online or by phone (as long as you are requesting a future date--no same day sales)at only $1.50 a ticket. See this site for more details as well as the link and phone number for tickets:http://www.nps.gov/inde/tickets.htm

I strongly recommend you use this service, particularly since the monetary loss in case you end up not being able to get there is nominal. Your actual tour of the Hall will be short--less than a half hour--but to get into its immediate area, you will have to wait in a security screening line that often requires more than a half hour wait. Then there are other interesting buildings on the other side of the security checkpoint to see on the way to the Hall, including the Liberty Bell in its visitor center, and the buildings which housed the U.S. Congress and the Supreme Court during their first decade.

You are required to pick up your ticket at least an hour before your tour's scheduled time, to make sure you have time to get through security, and with the possibility of air or traffic delay, if you will not be arriving in the city until the afternoon I would book the latest available tour of the Hall to be sure you don't miss out. You still have to go through the security line to see the Liberty Bell and the buildings around the Hall, but you can go into any of those without a ticket. Even if you've gone through security, though, you won't get in the Hall without a ticket.

Parking was easy in the huge Independence Center garage, although expensive ($12). I didn't price the nearby public parking lots, but I found parking very expensive in Center City Philly in general and I doubt you'd save a whole lot if staying at least a couple of hours.

I used both routes discussed above, and though I think the I-76 route is probably a little lower mileage, I would tend to recommend the I-95 route for the first-timer too, if for no other reason that you are unloaded from the Interstate closer to the Hall and there is better signage directing you to it. I liked the views of the Ben Franklin Bridge too. Also, it seemed to me that when I listened to the traffic reports on 1060, the biggest delays were usually on the Schuykill Expressway (I-76), but maybe I just noticed them because the local pronunciation (Skookle?) just seems so delightfully quaint to us outsiders.